Folding trailers



March 8, 1960 5.0; SKULDT' FOLDING TRAILERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.17, 1956 INVENTOR BOYD O. SKU LDT I ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 1 B. o.SKULDT FOLDINGTRAILERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1956 INVENTOR.BOYD O. SKULDT ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 B. o. SKULDT FOLDING TRAILERS 6Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1956 INVENTOR. BOYD O. SKULDT ATTORNEY.

March 8, 1960 B. o. S'KULDT FOLDING TRAILERS 6 Shets Sheet 4 Filed Dec.17, 1956 R m E vT m U K s O D VI 0 B ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 B. o. SKULDTFOLDING TRAILERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 17, 1956 INVENTOR. BOYD O.SKULDT ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 :3. o. SKULDT 2,927,816

FOLDING TRAILERS Filed Dec. 1'7, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. BOYD O.SKULDT ATTORNEY.

- convenient The present invention relates to" improvements 1 trailersand is concerned moie p'rt-ienlarly-with v (if'the: folding orcollapsible type.

The principal" object-of the'Ypresent intention is; general to improveand to; simplify the '11 of folding or collapsible trailers and toprovide a o fortable, livable unit when thetraileF is attended compactunit adapted for storage'off Y3Il0ll3"i tftll8,' ilcli as camping gearorthe like; when the traiiet I folded or eoll'ap'sed Condition.

A more partienlar-objjeet is to provide atrailerliaying arearwardl-yextended portion whieh forms a porch? or titelike- Wheri th -tra-ilerisexteniiled and forms a frame and hinged closure member for the 'aiendor the trailer when the same is folded: or qua ed.

Another part-team 'olijeetoffltlie ii'lyntio'nf vid'e a tfailen'liaving-afiarpaulidor 'otlierip covering therefor which is'applicable.wlitherft e trailer is extended 01- folded and whereinfiroyisioti is made for "p'ulatioir'of the pliant sheeti eoyerj" the 1trailer is" beingextended or folded" and eo n retention ofthe endportionsi thereof. V I Y fii'r'ther flartieu-lar "object; is" proyide.a1, liela collapsible trailer" including a stoile onthe' l prowiisionfdrthe circinanbn of, airor hea trailer and having the folding gortiops oft tra q ons'truted and arranged that"the stove does'not dbstrne't thef'folding or eollaias'ing of the trailer.

Otherobjecfrs 'aiidadiian agei i rnea arentfrom t following detaileddescription take m in} CdIijImc the aceompanying dr'awingfwhereiirprefe' ments-of -thie principles of inyeritiori have I foi'-exemplificatiorir l W In the drawings:

Fig? I- is as ide'fperspeetiye yie'wioffatrailer in aeordaneewiththeinvention and operati-v I disel' the-interiorthereofy'" I t I l isa'r'ear end View of the trailer. as shown; iii,

F1 is a sectional view taken on fine 4 g o ,Fig,v Fig. is a fragmentarysectional. V ew taken" on. the. line-'5 5"of Fi'glflj V .i "Fig. is" anenlarged detailed sectional view, taken: on. the line 6; 6 of Fig. 1f; ir v y i is an enlarged detailed, sectional iew taken; nl li7.;T7v0fF1fg: y Eigt, 3 is; an, enlarged nema; of; the rea and frag? f16f. theit aile with the re endextensions broken: new" v Eig. 9. is anenlarged fragmentarysectional: view-taken; on line 9- 9 of Fig. l;

- L01 i553 top platrrview'of: a modified fonn of the 7 nnti0n;:wlie1:ein.trailer cover hoisting-mains? g gi vided;;-and:.. v a

is-in eiitendedbr when V "sections ,4 and;

. die? iike52 estate w a cqverpan p r is ets ted M r: 19$? l i is a rearend iew of the trailer shown. in Fig 10 with the, cover in partialenclosing Position." 4 "Referring more particularly "to the diawings',wherein like iimerals're fer'ltoelike parts, the trailer thereinwshown rgs aflbbf designated in its entirety at 10 and ari'iage wheelsof, anysnitabl e, kind. In the form of the invention illustrated the floor 10is a double floor composed ofparallel upper and lower walls 12' and 14,respectively; and intermediate spacers, 16. 'A suitable stove. or otherheatin -mi: iridieated at 18 is positioned over an openin19at theforward end of the floor 10 and openingsw 20 are Qr'oyided at therearward end of the floor through witieh lieated'air is drawn by thenormal, draft of. the

stove and passed between the flooring walls '12'and14 asind'ie'ated bythe arrows in Fig. 1 so as to, heatlthe traflenflooii When trailerheating means i's'notde'sirfed it will iiotlie necessary to employ thedouble floor eon: strtitioif as shown at 12, 14 and 16' and theinvention. aecordifigly contemplates the provision 'of a single wallfloor of any suitable material if so desired.

The front wall of the trailer indicated in its entirety will section26Twhich is secured to the front end-v ofthe v ildor "10 by;- hinges 28;When the stove 18' is. emplo ed are hinges 2 8 are preferably of thedouble pivot type as that 'vyheir e a' izs is to, be folded inwardly thewall rriay bee l eyatedsufiiciently toclear the. stove/18: s shq'wii ythe br ke]; ra es in Fi 5;. was meeting;

' ted state the fixed front wall siegitidn.

Z4 "the "hing alignment by 's table m a s sil'ch as: the awl-seas;

' in: Fig 6 wh s carried. y. the wall sectiort g if andinclnde akeep 21[gaging alvbracketittfixedg ngedwall's 6.. Thejiinetioii between'the: Ig is vdesirably sealed off with a stripping. 36 of rubber, or othersnitablefmaterial to P110; ide'a irtight'frontlwall. The trailer framehas a jpo tiqn projeetingforwardly of theffxont 2l as now; at 37- whiehcarries a; i s' t d 8, n M c -9r ded rot supporting the front end of 'tha ler ame'isdi's'engaged-from its towingv'ehicle'..' A shield. 49isfpreferably provided over. the forwardly ext ing gfnbnt. panel 3'1t0,- act as a wind breaker a'ndft perate with the panel 37 tos protecti. the fixed front wall section 24 from stones, wet asphalt or the ricewhen the; trailer is in forward motion; 7 The, l fi lhl p ml 3'1 andthejcover 40 also pm v t storage area. such as for. a. fuel oil-z ridpower unit for the, trailer.

ear] walliofitlie trailer indicated. in its entirelys ,s'enredt 'therear end of the floor 10by hinges; h f tlie'wallj ilmay be folded.inwardly adjacent Owhe .tl ie t raileris collapsed... A right angled.areua te f rlam ember- 4 6: is fixed to'the bOtlLOIlI'Ofithfi. rifwjauaw and when the wall 42 is folded down; wardly'fth franriemeniber '46will be; elevated to form; a-ii"u righ rear wallsection whichfin'general matches; ,tlwall. secti0n 24 so that: when the: trailer? a w llpse a sh n n F g 3 andAasyma metrical app earance will be provided. Ahinged plate, 4.8-. is;ca;m:iedi at the. rear end of "the; trailer floor10;: so s to; be framed by,- the" member, Afie'and se lectiiielyecuredthereto by the pawl: amt keeper. means indicated at 49in Fig; 9;Itswill be'apparent thatwhenthe rear wall 42 is in upright erectedOSitiOn tIie-rearwardIy extending frame 46 and plate 48 will provide?rear porch or platform for-'- thetrailer and that'when the section '2 res cured in vertical] I 3 I rear wall 42 is folded inwardly and the frameis upright the plate 48 will provide a hinged closure member for therear end of the trailer when the same is in a folded or collapsed statethus to provide convenient access to the interior thereof.

Forming a roof frame for the trailer are opposed channel shaped stringerarms 50 extending lengthwise at' opposed sides of the trailer andsupported when the trailer is extended or erected by brackets 52 and 54carried by opposed upper sides of the hinged front wall section 26 andthe rear wall 42, respectively. A plurality of arcuate cross-ribs 56areremovably supported by the opposed stringer arms 50 preferably in theman-.

ner shown in Fig. 7 and extend transversely of the same to form anarched roof frame for the trailer. The stringer arms 50 and cross ribs56 are removably supported by the walls 26 and 42 so that when thesewalls are folded inwardly and the trailer is collapsed the roof framemembers may be supported by the floor 10. The arcuate cross-ribs 56preferably match the, upper edges of the arcuate fixed front wallsection 24 and the upright rear frame member 46 further to preserve thesymmetrical appearance of the trailer in folded or collapsed state asreflected in Figs. 3 and 4.

The trailer roof is preferably in the form of a pliant cover orwaterproof tarpaulin 58. One end of the cover 58 is suitably securedalong one side of the trailer floor and a convenient manner of effectingthis is to provide a sewn end pocket for the cover for receiving a rod60 which is secured under the side edge of the floor 10 by spaced hooks62 as best shown in Fig. 8. The opposed end of the cover 58 is securedto a spool 64 having an end handle 66 whereby to wind or to unwind thecover on or from the spool. A pawl and ratchet arrangement 70 isprovided so that the cover 58 may be pulled taut in either extended orcollapsed condition of the trailer, drawing the roller against thebottom side of the floor, and sealing the cover against the side edgesof the floor. The roller 64 may be supported in brackets 72 carriedbeneath the floor 10 at the side thereof opposed to the hooks 62. Endplates 74 are carried by the end brackets 72 for supporting the ends ofthe roller 64 and are preferably provided with elongated slots as shownat 76 in Fig. 8 which permit the roller 64 to slide along the elongatedwalls of the slots thus to allow for an increase in the diameter of theroller as the cover is rolled around it or a decrease in its diameter asthe cover is pulled ofi. Spring clips or the like 78 and 80 may besecured to the front and rear walls 22 and 42, respectively, to engageand retain the front and rear ends of the cover 58.

' In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11semiautomatic means are provided for pulling the tarpaulin or covermember 58 over the roof ribs 56 and the end walls 22 and 42 when thetrailer is in erected position. As shown, cable holders 82 and cables 84are provided at opposed extendedends of the spool 64. The cables 84extend beneath the floor of the trailer'to pulleys S at its oppositeside and then ,upwardly in grooves provided at the sides and tops of theendwalls 22 and 42. The free ends of the cables 84 aresecured to thefree end of the cover 58 so that when the crank 66 is rotated the cover58 will be pulled from the spool 64 by the cables 84 upwardly and overthe roof frame members of the trailer. The cable holders 82 are providedwith set screws 86 which may be loosened topermit the holders to runfreely on the spool 64 when thecables are extended for attachment to thetarpaulin cover.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not confined to theprecise constructions and arrangements of parts herein illustrated anddescribed but embraces all such modifications thereof as come within thescope of the following claims.

. I claim:

1. A folding trailer comprising, a floor having front and rear ends, afixed upright front wall section at the front end of said floor, ahinged front wall section at said front end complementing said fixedupright wall section to form an upright front wall, a hinged rear wall,the said hinged front wall section and rear wall being adapted to befolded inwardly toward said floor from upright operative position, aright angled extension member fixed to said hinged rear wall, the saidextension member forming a rearward extension for said floor when therear wall is in upright operative position and forming an upright rearwall section when said rear wall is folded inwardly, stringer armsextending lengthwise at opposed sides of said floor, means carried bysaid front and'rear walls for supporting said stringer arms upwardly ofsaid floor, cross roof supporting ribs carried by said stringer arms,the said stringer arms and cross ribs being adapted selectively to besupported above said floor when the trailer is erected with said frontand rear walls in upright operative position and supported adjacent saidfloor when the trailer is collapsed with said front and rear walls infolded inoperative position, and a pliant cover for said trailer securedalong opposed sides of said floor and extending over said stringer armsand cross ribs when the trailer is either extended or collapsed, thefront and rear ends of said cover being adapted to be secured to saidfront and rear walls when the trailer is extended and to said uprightfront and rear wall sections when the trailer is collapsed.

2. The trailer of claim 1 additionally including crank and roller meanssecuring said pliant cover at one side of said trailer.

3. The trailer of claim 2 additionally including an elongated track forsaid roller whereby to permit movement of said roller in a radialdirection as said pliant cover is wound or unwound.

4. A folding trailer comprising, a floor having front and rear ends, afixed upright front wall section at the front end of said floor, ahinged front wall section at said front end complementing said fixedupright wall section to form an upright front wall, a hinged rear wall,the said hinged front wall section and rear wall being adapted to befolded inwardly toward said floor from upright operative position, aright angled frame member fixed to said hinged rear wall, the said framemember forming a rearwardly extending porch frame for said floor whenthe rear wall is in upright operative position and forming an uprightrear wall section when said rear wall is folded inwardly, stringer armsextending lengthwise at opposed sides of said floor, means carried bysaid front and rear walls for supporting said stringer arms upwardly ofsaid floor, cross roof supporting ribs carried by said stringer arms,the said stringer arms and cross ribs being adapted selectively to besupported above said floor when the trailer is erected with said frontand rear walls in upright operative position and supported adjacent saidfloor when the trailer is collapsed with said front and rear walls infolded inoperative position, 7

and cross ribs when the trailer is either extended or collapsed, thefront and rear ends of said cover being adapted to be secured to said.front and rear walls when the trailer is extended and to said uprightfront and rear wall sections when the trailer is collapsed.

5. The trailer of claim 4 additionally including a hinged plate carriedat the rear end of the floor and framed by the right angled framemember, the said plate providing a rearwardly extending porch when therear wall is in upright position and the trailer is extended and ahinged closure for the upright rear wall section when the rear wall isfolded inwardly and the trailer is collapsed.

6. A folding trailer comprising, a floor having front and rear ends, anupright front wall at the front end of said floor, a hinged rear wall atthe rear end of said floor, the said rear wall being adapted to befolded inwardly toward said floor from upright operative position, aright angled frame member fixed to said hinged rear wall, the said framemember forming a rearwardly extending porch frame for said floor whenthe rear wall is in upright operative position and forming an uprightextended and a hinged closure at the rear end of the trailer when said,rear wall, is folded inwardly traileris collapsed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS SurberAug. 28, 1917 Redding Apr. 21, 1936 Taylor Apr. 11, 1939 Anderson Aug.10, 1943 Walls July. 12, 1949 May et al. Mar. 4, 1952 and the

